Metal Surface Dipole Moment and Work Function in the Linear Potential Model

Abstract

Jellium metal surface properties such as the surface dipole barrier and work function are obtained in the linear potential approximation to the effective potential at the surface. The metal surface position and field strength are determined respectively by the requirement of overall charge neutrality and the constraint set on the electrostatic potential by the Budd-Vannimenus theorem. The calculations are primarily analytic and these properties are given in terms of universal functions of the field strength. The results obtained employing the Ceperly-Alder expression for the correlation energy closely approximate those of Lang and Kohn.